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Asin Thottumkal, whose back-to-back promotional campaigns for “London Dreams” left her exhausted, ushered in her birthday quietly with a few friends and family members. She says it was the most “peaceful and happy birthday” of her life.

“Actually I hadn’t slept at all. I had been working non-stop for ‘London Dreams’ for the last one week with just three-four hours of sleep. Anyway I’m making up for the exhausting week with the most peaceful and happy birthday of my life,” Asin, who turned 24 Monday, told IANS.

Asin brought in her birthday with a quiet dinner on Sunday night with her close friends. “It was eight of my closest friends at dinner. We had a ball. At midnight they made me cut a cake. I felt 12 years old again.”

Earlier during the evening Asin arrived home to a big surprise.

“When I opened the door the entire house was done up with balloons by my parents, just like they used to do for my birthdays when I was a child. I had to burst quite a few balloons because there was no room to even walk. I’ve never felt happier,” she said.

On her birthday the actress gorged on food and has regained all the weight that she had to lose for her role in “London Dreams”.

“I had to be much thinner for my character. Now in 24 hours I think I’ve regained all the weight that I lost for ‘London Dreams’. I’ve been gorging non-stop on chocolates and chocolate cake. And there’s still so much left,” said Asin, who made it big in Bollywood with “Ghajini”.

The second-half of the day was devoted to the kids in her highrise apartment. They all love their Asin didi and wouldn’t miss her birthday for the world.

“Fortunately, there was enough cake and chocolates to go around. So it was great fun. This is the best birthday I had. I woke up to god knows how many SMSes and missed calls. I can’t believe so many people remembered my birthday and cared about it,” she said.

But by far the best part of her birthday was provided by her parents. “When I saw the trouble they had taken over decorating my place, I decided then and there that I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

Southern beauty Asin, who is looking forward to her mega budget Bollywood release “London Dreams”, says she chooses her roles carefully as she doesn’t want to do anything vulgar or indecent.

“I would never do something that is baseless, vulgar and indecent… something I am not comfortable doing and therefore can’t do justice with,” Asin told IANS.

“When I choose a film, my criteria are script, role, director, producer and then co-artist. Language or financial issues never determine what film I want to do,” she added.

The 23-year-old made her debut in Hindi movies opposite superstar Aamir Khan in the hit film “Ghajini” last year.

Southern beauty Asin Thottumkal has slammed rumours suggesting that she refused a role in Farah Khan’s next directorial venture “Happy New Year” saying she can never say no to the choreographer-turned-director.

“I am extremely upset with this rumour that has obviously been floated by vested interests. I don’t understand how such rumours crop up.

“Farah Khan is a close friend of mine there is no way I can refuse her. There was never any discussion over the movie. This news is utter rubbish,” Asin clarified in a statement.

Farah, who has earlier made blockbuster films like “Main Hoon Na” and “Om Shanti Om”, supported Asin and said: “The rumour is a complete fabrication. I have not even written the script as yet.”

Asin will next be seen in her forthcoming release Vipul Shah’s “London Dreams”, also starring Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan.

Asin Thottumkal has been recently hospitalized at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital due to acute sinus.

Asin’s father said,”Yes she’s in hospital. Nothing to worry about. All this is part of the process of my daughter’s growing up.”

A buddy of Asin says, “Asin was admitted to the Dhirubhai hospital… not for exhaustion but an acute sinus condition. She had been neglecting the condition for quite some time now. But now the sinus situation had to be attended to. But she was in great spirits, her usual chirpy and friendly self singing even as her treatment was being done.”

“She had no choice but to get into the hospital to have the condition treated. She waited until Eid when there was break from work.”

It is pretty obvious as to why Asin Thottumkal is smiling from ear to ear. She has recently bagged the 150th award of her career and this one’s a special award as it is the highest civilian honour titled ‘Kalaimamani’ that is given by the Tamil Nadu government.

An elated Asin said, “I’m proud that the state chose me to give its highest honour. It is true that this one is my 150th award and the number of awards might sound a mouthful but I have miles to go and lots to achieve. I’m still very young and it’s great to have won so many awards in my film career. I have had a great start in Bollywood and I’m looking to do some good projects in this industry as well as down South,”

It is learnt that Asin is a very private person when it comes to sharing news about her philanthropic work. She has touched the lives of many for many years now through her various associations. Reportedly, the actress has been actively supporting NGO’s in Kerela and Chennai to set up programmes that aims at providing support to the disabled and the needy.

A close hand reveals, “Asin hates talking openly about her social work. She is a private person and does not want to flaunt her good deeds. She secretly takes time off regularly and visits the institutes she is associated with in Kerela and Tamil Nadu. She has been doing it for years now and does not like to be an exhibitionist.”

There are truces and friendships starting up all over Bollywood. The most recent duo stepping on the friendship boat is Asin and Sonam Kapoor. After Salman decided to call it a truce with Shah Rukh, and Aishwarya became friends anew with Sonam Kapoor, this one is the new friendship doing the rounds as the grapevine suggests.

Both the actresses have been seen chatting and bonding at parties, and spending time at each other’s houses. Asin is a newcomer to Mumbai and she is glad to have found a friend in Sonam. She has also spoken freely about her kinship with Anil Kapoor’s daughter in a recent interview.

Sonam’s friendship is a stable base for Asin as she is also new in Bollywood and does not know the workings of the industry. Sonam’s father being an A-list actor, she has been involved in the glamorous world of Bollywood since a very young age. Asin truly believes that actresses can be friends and combat rivalry.

Asin was working on The 19th Step which appears to be shelved now as veteran actor Kamal Hassan has walked out on the project. She was seen working very hard for the role and was very angry about the cancellation of the movie for now. Looks like she will find a friendly shoulder to cry on with Sonam.

Recently, a stalker managed to get past security to talk to Asin during her trip to Singapore. He took pictures without her permission and followed her everywhere. Asin was in Singapore when a man, who seemed to be in his mid-20s, kept following her everywhere. The drama unfolded at the hotel where she was staying. He approached Asin to talk to her, without paying heed to the security guards surrounding her.
A friend of Asin, who was with her, said, “Before she could react, he started taking her pictures. Suddenly, he started behaving even more strangely. He pretended he was her bodyguard and stopped people from going near her.” During the function, he tricked the security guards at the venue and reached the dining room where Asin was having a meal. “He told the guards that he had come from Indore and wanted to talk to her at any cost. He tried every trick in the book to convince them and succeeded,” Asin’s friend said.
The man followed her even when she was shopping at a mall. When she reached the hotel, she saw him in the lobby too. Next morning, Asin rushed out of the hotel and headed straight to the airport for her flight to Mumbai. “She feared that he would be waiting outside the airport, but luckily this time, he wasn’t around,” said the friend. Confirming the unpleasant incident, Asin’s manager said, “Yes, Asin had a problem in Singapore with a stalker.”
Meanwhile, Asin has given instructions to the guards in her building to ensure that the unpleasant incident is not repeated.

One of Kollywood’s most charming heroines, who has recently turned a national diva, Asin was in Chennai yesterday as brand ambassador to Tata Sky. In fact, she had also come to meet fans of her from across south India, who had participated and won in the Dinner with Asin contest.

Dressed in a stunning violet gown, the actress patiently took questions and flashed her trademark wide grin while posing to the media. I am very happy to be back in Chennai, she said, adding that she was looking forward to do a Tamil film, and was waiting for the right script.

Admitting to being a cricket fan, Asin said she records her matches and watches them one she is back from shooting. Speaking about the commercials she had shot for Tata Sky, Asin said they were a lot of fun and she could shoot most of them with one take. In that way, shooting an ad is a lot easier than shooting a film, she said in chaste Tamil.

Explaining that she had agreed to do only two more films, 19 Steps, apart form the almost completed London Dreams, Asin also stated that there were a lot of similarities between her Hindi and Tamil Ghajini costars, Aamir Khan and Surya. “Both of them are thorough professionals and always keep thinking of their work only, said the actress.

Brain, not brawn is what impresses Asin. While once again scorching rumours of a link-up with Salman Khan, Asin admits she’s going ga ga over the Bollywood bad boy’s wit and sense of humour. (Jeevan Prakash)

While the whole world is talking about Archie’s upcoming marriage with Veronica and apart from Betty-Veronica there is someone else who equally loves Archie – its Asin.

Talking about Archie comics,she says, “I have been stuck on them since I was nine years old.”

Asin reveals that she is a big lover or Archie and has a big collection of Archie comic books and carries them along whenever she goes abroad.

So folks what do you think about Archie marrying Veronica instead of Betty.